ecember 1997 (next to be held no later than 1
January 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected
prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3
February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
Parliament and provincial vote--NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora
consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by
provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the
members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly
(217 seats--10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March
1999); National Assembly--last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held
NA February 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J
2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PML/N 137, PPP
18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1,
independents 21, minorities 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court

Political parties and leaders:
government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
frequently shifting: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or
Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which
Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S, Tehrik-I-Jafria
Noorani faction or JUP/NO
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently;
subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman
group or JUI/F was disbanded

Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and
small merchants also influential

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO,
ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC,